Benfica manager José Mourinho, who is on the radar of both Newcastle United and Real Madrid, has made his intentions as a coach very clear ahead of a potentially crucial summer.
TEAMtalk reveals that Mourinho has informed interested parties that a return to Real Madrid is his first priority – amid the interest from Newcastle.
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A career full of trophies, controversies and character
José Mourinho (63) is one of the most prominent football coaches of all time. He has managed clubs such as Porto, Chelsea, Inter, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham, Roma and Fenerbahce – and now Benfica. Throughout his career, he has won the Champions League with both Porto (2004) and Inter (2010), as well as league gold in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain. He is known for his tactical acumen, his psychological games and not least his legendary statements at press conferences – where he has dubbed himself “The Special One”. At Real Madrid, he won La Liga in 2011/12 with a record 100 points and 121 goals, but the club failed in the Champions League, and he left the team in 2013 after internal conflicts with several of the star players.
Real Madrid first priority for the Portuguese
Despite an impressive unbeaten season in the Portuguese league, Benfica are set to lose the gold to arch-rivals Porto. This has led to new speculation about Mourinho’s future.
Sources confirm that the clubs monitoring his situation – including Newcastle’s Saudi-backed owners, PIF – have been informed that Mourinho’s priority is to return to Real Madrid, should the opportunity arise.
Real Madrid are currently considering their options in a situation where Álvaro Arbeloa’s future is uncertain – a change of coach seems increasingly likely. Real Madrid is no stranger to bringing back old acquaintances. The club has previously rehired both Zinédine Zidane (2019) and Carlo Ancelotti (2021).
Zidane is understood to be a preferred candidate again, but he is on track to succeed Didier Deschamps as France boss – which could rule him out in this summer’s round.
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Pérez is planning renewal – with Mourinho at the helm?
This development has pushed Mourinho more strongly into the spotlight of President Florentino Pérez. Despite some scepticism, Pérez believes the Portuguese tactician could be the right man to lead the next phase at the Bernabéu.
Pérez is also planning a significant revamp of the squad, with stars such as Manchester City’s Rodri and Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister among the targets, while highly rated Argentine talent Nico Paz is expected to return to the club.
According to the information, the president feels that an experienced and authoritative figure is needed to oversee this transition phase – a factor that could play into Mourinho’s hands. But not everyone in the club’s management agrees with this.
Alternative candidates, including Jürgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino, also have strong support internally.
Mourinho positions himself for the job
Mourinho, through his influential agent Jorge Mendes, is actively positioning himself for the role and has made it clear to suitors that Real Madrid remains his priority.
Newcastle are among those who have been informed about Mourinho’s attitude. The Premier League club is continuing its research into potential coaching options, while uncertainty surrounding Eddie Howe’s long-term future persists.
